Ice maker with automatic descale and sanitize feature

Abstract

An automatic descale and sanitize process for an ice maker which requires less user intervention and time. During descaling, a main water reservoir of an ice maker sump is filled with water to a descale water level and mixes with a cleaner placed in the main water reservoir. The water / cleaner mixture is pumped through the ice maker to descale the water system and freeze plate. During sanitizing, the sump is filled with water to a sanitize water level, above the descale water level, and mixes with sanitizer placed in a sanitizer reservoir of the sump. The water / sanitizer mixture is pumped through the ice maker to sanitize the water system and freeze plate. During descaling, the sanitizer placed in the sanitizer reservoir does not come into contact with the water in the main water reservoir. After the descale and sanitize process, the ice maker can return to making ice.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to automatic ice making machines and, more particularly, to ice making machines with an automatic descaling and sanitizing feature.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Ice making machines, or ice makers, typically comprise a refrigeration and water system that employs a source of refrigerant flowing serially through a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion device, an evaporator, and a freeze plate comprising a lattice-type cube mold thermally coupled with the evaporator. Additionally, typical ice makers employ gravity water flow and ice harvest systems that are well known and in extensive use. Ice makers having such a refrigeration and water system are often disposed on top of ice storage bins, where ice that has been harvested is stored until it is needed. Such ice makers may also be of the “self-contained” type wherein the ice maker and ice storage bin are a single unit. Such ice makers have received wide acceptance an...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is directed to an ice maker with a main water reservoir and a sanitizer reservoir for automatically descaling and sanitizing the ice maker. The ice maker includes a sump with a main water reservoir and a sanitizer reservoir for holding a sanitizer. The main water reservoir is filled with water to an ice making water level, a descale water level, and a sanitize water level. The sanitizer reservoir is filled with water and a sanitizer. The ice maker also includes a water level sensor and a controller for controlling the ice maker based on the water level in the sump. The main technical effects of the invention include improved ice making efficiency, reduced water consumption, and improved sanitation of the ice maker.

Problems solved by technology

This may result in mold, algae, and slime buildup.

Some of these bacteria and viruses can make people ill.

While critical to the safe and healthy operation of ice makers, descaling and / or sanitizing of ice makers is often neglected because such maintenance is time consuming.

Descaling and sanitizing requires the ice maker to be taken offline for a period of time and is therefore inconvenient.

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